5 Signs Your Tyres Are Dangerously Worn

All modern tyres have tread wear indicators — small raised blocks moulded into the base of the main tread grooves. When your tread wears down to 1.6mm, these indicators become flush with the surface of the tread, giving you a clear visual signal that the tyre is at or below the legal limit.

Look into the main grooves of your tyre and you'll see these indicators at regular intervals around the circumference. If they're level with or above the surrounding tread, the tyre must be replaced immediately. Driving on them beyond this point is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Any visible bulge in the sidewall is a tyre emergency. It means the internal structure has failed and the outer rubber is the only thing between you and a blowout. A bulging tyre can fail without warning at any speed — do not drive on it. Call a mobile tyre fitter to come to you.

Sidewall cracking is a sign of rubber degradation, often caused by UV exposure, ozone, or simply age. Fine surface cracks in older tyres are common, but deep cracking that penetrates into the tyre structure is dangerous. Run your finger along the sidewall — if the cracks are deep enough to feel clearly, the tyre needs replacing.

If your car pulls to one side during normal driving or braking, or you feel an unusual vibration that has developed recently, it could indicate a tyre problem. Internal tyre damage — a separated belt, for example — can cause exactly these symptoms even when the outside of the tyre looks fine.

Don't assume vibration or pulling is just a balancing or alignment issue without having the tyres inspected. A separated belt inside a tyre is invisible from the outside but can cause a sudden tyre failure at speed.

Extreme uneven wear — where one edge of the tyre is significantly more worn than the other — can quickly bring the worn edge to below the legal limit even if the rest of the tyre looks fine. Check tread depth at the inner edge, centre, and outer edge of each tyre. If there's a big difference, investigate the cause (alignment or suspension) and replace the affected tyre.

A tyre that repeatedly loses pressure overnight or needs topping up weekly has a slow puncture. This could be a nail or screw embedded in the tread, a damaged valve stem, or a porous alloy wheel causing a bead seal leak. Don't just keep re-inflating it — get it professionally inspected and repaired or replaced.